By Brian Gunter
Ten years ago, I witnessed the tragedy of fifteen mothers walking into a Fort Worth abortion clinic to take the life of their unborn child. I pleaded with them to reconsider as they went in pregnant, then a few hours later came out broken and full of regret.
I spent my first morning outside an abortion clinic with my Hebrew professor from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Eric Mitchell, who had been to that sidewalk many times before. We shared the gospel with those women and prayed for God to turn their hearts away from death to life.
I went home and tried to clear my mind, but I could not erase the memory of what I had seen that day. I wondered who those fifteen little boys and girls would have grown up to be. I asked myself: What would I do if I knew that some crazed mass-murderer would walk into my local elementary school tomorrow and murder fifteen children? Would I try to stop him? And then I asked myself: Is there any real difference between a school shooting and that abortion clinic where another fifteen children will be slaughtered tomorrow?
Every day in America, three thousand babies are torn to pieces in abortion clinics in our communities. That is about the same number of people who were killed on September 11. Do you remember how you felt when the World Trade Center towers collapsed with all those people inside? That is how I have felt every day for the last ten years as I have thought about abortion.
Proverbs 24:11 commands us to “rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” We have to do something to end this genocide against the most innocent victims among us, and that is what I have committed my life to doing.
I have spent many mornings on the sidewalk imploring moms and dads to choose life for their children and eternal life through Jesus Christ. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I have persuaded parents to change their mind. I have even led some to repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ, right there on the sidewalk as the clinic employees glared at me for sabotaging their business of selling abortions to women in the most desperate moment of their life.
By God’s grace, I spearheaded the effort to found Cenla Pregnancy Center in my community to support mothers and fathers in a crisis pregnancy. In the first year since opening, we have served over two hundred mothers in Central Louisiana, some of whom have told us that they would have had an abortion if they had not come to Cenla Pregnancy Center first.
It has been my joy to work with many other pastors and community leaders to organize the first pro-life march in Central Louisiana, where over five thousand people stand together for life every year. It has been my honor to help organize and speak at similar pro-life marches in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles, and Monroe.
I am convinced that if we will roll up our sleeves, step out of our comfort zone, and ask God for opportunities to serve, then the Lord will grant the cry of our hearts. I believe Jesus when he said: “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
Will you ask God to show you how to join the fight to end abortion and save lives? Will you step out in faith and stand up for life?
Will you march for life with me this January and February across Louisiana? Will you volunteer your time or give to your local pregnancy center?
I cannot explain to you how it feels to hold the babies that you have been a part of saving from abortion, but I can promise you this much: it is worth it!
Brian Gunter is pastor of First Baptist Pollock. He serves as the outreach director for Louisiana Right to Life, and also is the board president of the Cenla Pregnancy Center.
